Music-well-illuminating device.



H. GENNETT & J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSIC WELL ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.4,1915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

THE couJMmA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n, c.

H. GENNETT & J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSIC WELL ILLUMINA'HNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-4.1915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- v Mm w a m a m miinegsrs Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. C.

H. GENNETT & J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSIC WELL ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. m5.

1 ,1 86,392, Patented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY GENNETT AND JOHN S. MAXWELL, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO THE STARR PIANO COMPANY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

MUSIC-WELL-ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letterslatent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

music well of a player piano by the use of a light which casts mild rays downwardly upon the entire width of the traveling music sheet while the lighting element itself is obscured from the view of the operator.

The-objects of this invention are to produce a cheap, serviceable, and accessible electric lighting system, easily installed in a player piano at the time it is built or otherwise, wherein the light employed casts no glare into the operators eyes directly or by reflection off the paper of the music sheet, wherein the lamp employed produces a mild and gentle light which is not suf-' ficient to unduly heat the piano mechanism or scorch or crack the finish of its woodwork, wherein no hood or reflector is necessary, and the lamp is removable in order to replace a defective bulb, wherein means are provided for preventing vibration of the lamp and consequent flicker of the light on the paper, and wherein the lamp is con trolled entirely from within the music well so that it cannot be turned on or off when the doors of said well are closed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the outlines of the music well with the piano case removed, showing the relation of the illuminating element to the well. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation showing a conventional music well with the piano case removed, and exhibiting a different embodiment of the illuminating element. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the structure sho-wnat Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the illuminating element disposed in the rear of the piano case, and its position with relation to the music sheet and tracker bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bracket for supporting the socket of the illuminating device shown at Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bracket for supporting the illuminating device shown at Figs. 3 and 1. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing especially the structure shown at Figs, 1 and 2. I

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved illuminating device which forms the subject-matter of this application concerns only so much of a player piano as comprises a music well embodying cheek plates 10, a tracker bar 11 and a top plate 12, such top plate being cut away as shown at 13 to permit the positioning of an illuminating element 14 or 15 just behind that portion of the case 16 overhanging the opening 13 to prevent the illuminating element from being seen by the operator.

To illuminate the traveling music sheet sufficiently to enable the player to determine whether or not it is properly tracking and to read the notes-and words on that portion of the sheet approaching the tracker bar during the operation of said player piano, it is necessary that the illuminating element be practically as wide as the sheet, at least as wide as the perforated portion of such sheet.

As shown at Figs. 1 and 3 the illuminating-elements 1 1 and 15 are of such length as to correspond practically to the width of the sheet between the heads 17 of the music roller, and these elements are luminous throughout their length so that they cast a soft light upon the entire width of the sheet and enable the player to see all the perforations therein andto read the tempo and expression marks, and words if there be any accompanying the music. Said elements are, in fact, elongated bulbs without hoods or reflectors.

I11 applying this device to a player piano already built, it may be desirable to employ the construction or embodiment best seen in Figs. 1 and 2-first cutting out the opening 13 in the top plate 12 if the front of the easing 16 doesnot overhang the well sufficiently to make this cutting unnecessary. The elongated lamp or bulb 14 is screwed into an ordinary pull-chain socket 18, and to prevent vibration the socket is mounted within a bracket 19 which surrounds its body, and is additionally supported by another bracket or bar 20 which may engage the small end of the socket or the cord. adjacent thereto; and both brackets are rigidly secured to the walls of the music well. The electric current is supplied through the flexible cord 21 from a source of energy shown diagrammatically at Fig. 8 as 22.

A different embodiment of the invention, best seen in Figs. 3, f and 5, is preferably adopted when this device is applied to the player piano while the latter is being built, although we do not wish to be limited in this respect. Herein the illuminating element is also an elongated incandescent electric lamp 15, supported by two spaced brackets 23 and 24 carrying sockets comprising spring jaws 23 which serve also as contacts between the conductor 25 and the opposite ends or poles 15' of such incandescent lamp. The control of the conductor is accomplished in any approved manner, but preferably by introducing a common and ordinary ,switch 26 into the rear wall of the music well and dividing the conductor into two branches 27 and 28, the latter of which passes through the switch 26 which serves to make and break the energizing circuit to the electric lamp 15.

The exact form of the lamp is wholly immaterial to the present invention which resides in mounting an illuminating element of a length substantially corresponding to the width of the music sheet in such position as to cast its illumination downward upon the sheet as it approaches the tracker bar, While yet being invisible to the operatorthus illuminating the traveling music sheet and at the same time not blinding the operat or by the light shining into the eyes.

Other embodiments may suggest them selves to the manufacturer, but these illustrations will be sufficient. Either lamp is readily accessible when the doors of the piano casing are opened, as also is either form of lamp-control, the chain hanging in view and the switch 26 being entirely uncovered when the music sheet is being put in or taken out. The lamp assists in this operation by thoroughly lighting the interior of the well, and yet its position is such that when the music is in place and the sheet is moving its light is cast upon that portion of the sheet which is approaching the tracker and illuminates the same, whether there are other lights in the room or not. Ordinarily the supply wires might be connected with the house wiring, but it is possible to use dry cells or a storage battery located entirely within the piano frame, so as to render the piano and its lighting mechanism portable.

We claim:

1. In a piano player, the combination with a music well embodying upright plates inclosing the tracker bar and a top plate cut away across its front edge just in rear of the piano case; of an elongated illuminating element luminous throughout its length, a plurality of brackets on the well for holding said element in rear of the case and in' line plurality of points so that it stands within said cut-away portion and in rear of the case, wires connecting said bulb with a source of electric energy, and a switch in the wiring accessible from within the music well.

3. In a piano player, the combination with a music well embodying upright plates inclosing the tracker bar and a top plate cut away across its front edge just in rear of the piano case; of a pair of spaced brackets mounted at their rear ends on said top plate with their front ends overlying said cutaway portion, sockets carried by said front ends, wires leading from a source of electric energy to said sockets, a switch within the length of one of said wires, and an elongated electric light bulb luminous throughout its length and having poles at its extremities for engaging said sockets.

4. In a piano player, the combination with a music well having an opening in its top plate parallel with the tracker bar, and an elongated electric light bulb luminous throughout its length and co-extensive with the width of the music sheet, the bulb standing within said opening and having poles at its extremities; of brackets mounted on said plate, sockets carried by said brackets, one of the sockets comprising a pair of spring jaws, wires leading from a source of electric energy to said sockets respectively, and a switch mounted in the rear wall of the well and interposed within the length of one of said wires.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY GENNETT. JOHN S. MAXWELL. Witnesses: ARNOLD E. PFEIFFER, LAURENCE H. PFEIFF'ER.

00p!" of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commute! 0i Pamm. Wuhinrton, D. 0." 

